Louis Dodds
Encyclopedia
Louis Bartholomew Dodds (born 8 October 1986 in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
) is an English
footballer who plays for League Two
side Port Vale
. He can play either as a midfielder
or as a striker.
After many years at the Leicester City
Academy, he turned professional at the club in 2006. He spent the 2006–07 season on loan at Conference
side Northwich Victoria
and League Two club Rochdale
. He then spent the entirety of the 2007–08 campaign on loan at Lincoln City
. He turned down a new deal with Leicester to sign for Port Vale in July 2008, and was rewarded with 48 games in 2008–09, scoring ten goals. He scored eight goals in 49 games in 2009–10 and scored seven times in 41 games in 2010–11.
-born Dodds and his family moved to Leicester
when he just five years old, where he joined the Leicester City
youth academy at the age of ten. He joined Leicester after being spotted by a talent scout while playing for Ratby & Groby, and whilst there earned himself a call-up to the England under-18 squad
. He finished the 2005–06 season with a hat-trick
in the final of the Westerby Challenge Cup, and also picked up the Academy Player of the Year trophy having scored 65 goals in three seasons for the Academy and reserves. Dodds was described by the Leicester management as "the most natural finisher at the club".
Dodds signed a new contract with the "Foxes" to keep him at the club until the summer of 2007, but on 9 October 2006 was allowed to join Conference
side Northwich Victoria
on loan to gain some first team experience. This loan deal was extended in November, before he was recalled by the Foxes at the end of the month due to an injury crisis. In February 2007 he joined Rochdale
on loan, and scored an early winner on his first start. He scored two goals in twelve games for the "Dale".
In July 2007 he agreed to a season long loan deal at Lincoln City
. He scored nine goals during his spell with Lincoln City and was voted as scorer of the club's goal of the season for his long-range strike against Wycombe Wanderers
. He showed an interest in joining the club permanently and was offered a new contract at parent club Leicester, but instead joined League Two
's Port Vale
on 21 July 2008, penning a two-year deal.
On 9 August 2008, Dodds made his first start for the Vale in the opening game of the season against Luton Town
and he was quick to win over his new supporters, scoring Vale's opening goal of the season with a 20 yard right footed shot. He further enhanced his popularity with the Vale faithful with a long range strike against Shrewsbury Town
. He especially enjoyed great popularity with the club's female support
, as he took away the club's 2009 "Mr Shirt of the Back" Award; he went on to pick up the award for three seasons running. He scored a total of ten goals in 48 games in 2008–09
.
Manager Micky Adams
arrived for the 2009–10
season, and transfer listed Dodds in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after Vale slipped to a third consecutive defeat. Dodds maintained his first team place however, scoring seven goals in 48 appearances. He was offered a new two year contract by the club at the end of the season, which he duly signed.
Vale enjoyed a positive start to the 2010–11
season. However in January 2011, Dodds found he was not a first team regular under new manager Jim Gannon
, despite calls from supporters for Gannon to include Dodds in the first eleven. Yet he managed to force himself back into contention with an impressive strike to seal a 2–1 win over Macclesfield Town
on 5 March, after coming into the match as a late substitute. After Gannon left the club just two weeks later, Dodds admitted that he probably would have left the club had Gannon remained in charge much longer. He scored his first hat-trick in the Football League
on 30 April, along with Justin Richards
, in a 7–2 win over Morecambe
.
He was not in the first team at the start of the 2011–12
campaign, but instead came off the bench in five of the "Valiants"' first six games.
and as a striker.
fan. His family live in Leicester and Sheffield, whereas Dodds lives in Stoke-on-Trent
.
|2006–07||Northwich Victoria
||Conference National
||6||3||0||0||0||0||6||3
|-
|2006–07||Rochdale
||League Two
||12||2||0||0||0||0||12||2
|-
|2007–08||Lincoln City
||League Two
||41||9||2||0||1||0||44||9
|-
|2008–09
||Port Vale
||League Two
||44||7||2||3||1||0||48||10
|-
|2009–10
||Port Vale
||League Two
||44||6||2||1||1||0||49||8
|-
|2010–11
||Port Vale
||League Two
||33||7||4||0||2||0||41||7
|-
|2011–12
||Port Vale
||League Two
||13||2||2||0||0||0||16||2
|-
194||35||12||4||5||0||217||42
194||35||12||4||5||0||217||42
Notes:
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays for League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He can play either as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
or as a striker.
After many years at the Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
Academy, he turned professional at the club in 2006. He spent the 2006–07 season on loan at Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
and League Two club Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. He then spent the entirety of the 2007–08 campaign on loan at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He turned down a new deal with Leicester to sign for Port Vale in July 2008, and was rewarded with 48 games in 2008–09, scoring ten goals. He scored eight goals in 49 games in 2009–10 and scored seven times in 41 games in 2010–11.
Playing career
SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
-born Dodds and his family moved to Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
when he just five years old, where he joined the Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
youth academy at the age of ten. He joined Leicester after being spotted by a talent scout while playing for Ratby & Groby, and whilst there earned himself a call-up to the England under-18 squad
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
. He finished the 2005–06 season with a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the final of the Westerby Challenge Cup, and also picked up the Academy Player of the Year trophy having scored 65 goals in three seasons for the Academy and reserves. Dodds was described by the Leicester management as "the most natural finisher at the club".
Dodds signed a new contract with the "Foxes" to keep him at the club until the summer of 2007, but on 9 October 2006 was allowed to join Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on loan to gain some first team experience. This loan deal was extended in November, before he was recalled by the Foxes at the end of the month due to an injury crisis. In February 2007 he joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan, and scored an early winner on his first start. He scored two goals in twelve games for the "Dale".
In July 2007 he agreed to a season long loan deal at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He scored nine goals during his spell with Lincoln City and was voted as scorer of the club's goal of the season for his long-range strike against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
. He showed an interest in joining the club permanently and was offered a new contract at parent club Leicester, but instead joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
's Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on 21 July 2008, penning a two-year deal.
On 9 August 2008, Dodds made his first start for the Vale in the opening game of the season against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and he was quick to win over his new supporters, scoring Vale's opening goal of the season with a 20 yard right footed shot. He further enhanced his popularity with the Vale faithful with a long range strike against Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. He especially enjoyed great popularity with the club's female support
Sexual attraction
Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
, as he took away the club's 2009 "Mr Shirt of the Back" Award; he went on to pick up the award for three seasons running. He scored a total of ten goals in 48 games in 2008–09
2008–09 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-seventh season of football in the Football League, and first season in League Two, following their relegation from League One. After a poor start to the season manager Lee Sinnott was sacked in September, and was replaced by Dean Glover. Despite a brief...
.
Manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
arrived for the 2009–10
2009–10 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-eighth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in League Two. Micky Adams received plaudits for his first full season in charge. He took a squad of players that had previously been near the bottom of the division and made...
season, and transfer listed Dodds in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after Vale slipped to a third consecutive defeat. Dodds maintained his first team place however, scoring seven goals in 48 appearances. He was offered a new two year contract by the club at the end of the season, which he duly signed.
Vale enjoyed a positive start to the 2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
season. However in January 2011, Dodds found he was not a first team regular under new manager Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
, despite calls from supporters for Gannon to include Dodds in the first eleven. Yet he managed to force himself back into contention with an impressive strike to seal a 2–1 win over Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
on 5 March, after coming into the match as a late substitute. After Gannon left the club just two weeks later, Dodds admitted that he probably would have left the club had Gannon remained in charge much longer. He scored his first hat-trick in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
on 30 April, along with Justin Richards
Justin Richards (footballer)
Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League...
, in a 7–2 win over Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
.
He was not in the first team at the start of the 2011–12
2011–12 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Port Vale's one-hundredth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League Two. It marked the start of Micky Adams' second spell in charge of the club, and despite fan unrest with the board, Vale fans and players were hopeful of promotion come...
campaign, but instead came off the bench in five of the "Valiants"' first six games.
Style of play
A skilful player, due to his goalscoring ability he is able to play as both a midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and as a striker.
Personal life
Like the rest of his family, Dodds is a Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
fan. His family live in Leicester and Sheffield, whereas Dodds lives in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
Statistics
|-|2006–07||Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||6||3||0||0||0||0||6||3
|-
|2006–07||Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||12||2||0||0||0||0||12||2
|-
|2007–08||Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||41||9||2||0||1||0||44||9
|-
|2008–09
2008–09 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-seventh season of football in the Football League, and first season in League Two, following their relegation from League One. After a poor start to the season manager Lee Sinnott was sacked in September, and was replaced by Dean Glover. Despite a brief...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||44||7||2||3||1||0||48||10
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-eighth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in League Two. Micky Adams received plaudits for his first full season in charge. He took a squad of players that had previously been near the bottom of the division and made...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||44||6||2||1||1||0||49||8
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||33||7||4||0||2||0||41||7
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Port Vale's one-hundredth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League Two. It marked the start of Micky Adams' second spell in charge of the club, and despite fan unrest with the board, Vale fans and players were hopeful of promotion come...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||13||2||2||0||0||0||16||2
|-
194||35||12||4||5||0||217||42
194||35||12||4||5||0||217||42
Notes:
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results included in totals.
Honours
Individual- Leicester City F.C.Leicester City F.C.Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
Academy Player of the Year: 2006
External links
- Profile at the official Port Vale site